PICA

PICA (Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts) is a contemporary arts centre located in the Perth Cultural Centre at 51 James Street, Northbridge, Perth, Western Australia. Housed in heritage-listed former school buildings, it is one of Australia's leading venues for contemporary visual, performance and interdisciplinary art. Established in 1989, it presents free exhibitions, performances and artist development programs, supporting emerging and experimental artists.

Visitors can expect free contemporary art exhibitions across multiple gallery spaces within heritage sandstone buildings in the Perth Cultural Centre. The venue presents rotating visual art exhibitions, performance, dance and interdisciplinary programs, plus artist studios and public programs such as talks and workshops. The setting is an urban cultural precinct with paved plazas, surrounded by the Art Gallery of Western Australia and WA Museum Boola Bardip, with a bar and event spaces on site.

PICA is housed in a complex of heritage-listed buildings constructed in 1896-1897 as the Perth Boys' and Girls' School, later used as Perth Technical College. The buildings are listed on the State Register of Heritage Places. PICA was established in 1989 to provide a dedicated venue for contemporary arts in Western Australia, adapting the historic school for gallery and performance use.

PICA is Western Australia's leading centre for contemporary arts, known for supporting emerging, experimental and interdisciplinary practice across visual art, performance and dance. It plays a key role in Perth's cultural ecosystem within the Perth Cultural Centre, presenting free public exhibitions and fostering artist development through studios, residencies and commissions.